Mayor Bloomberg for Attorney General?

WASHINGTON — With a nod to Senator Schumer, Mayor Bloomberg is putting to rest that pesky gossip about a bid for national office: He says he does not want to be the nation's next attorney general. "Despite any rumors you may have heard, I did not come to Washington as part of a stealth campaign to become the new attorney general," Mayor Bloomberg quipped to an audience at the National Press Club that appeared well-versed in the rampant speculation about his aspirations for the White House.

"It's one thing to watch Chuck Schumer's tenaciousness. It's quite another thing to be the subject of it," the mayor added, referring to the hard-charging role that New York's senior senator played in pushing for the ouster of Alberto Gonzales, who announced his resignation Monday.

Mr. Bloomberg praised Mr. Schumer — who was not in attendance yesterday — and said they've always gotten along well. But the mayor did poke a little fun at him over some "nasty comments" Mr. Schumer made about the condition of New York City's bridges following the collapse of the Interstate 35W span in Minnesota earlier this month. Drawing laughter, Mr. Bloomberg recalled pointing out that three weeks earlier, Mr. Schumer's wife, who was the city's transportation commissioner, had pronounced the bridges in "great shape."

After delivering a speech on poverty, the mayor issued his ritual denial of a presidential run. But he was spotted outside the National Press Building posing for photographs with supporters holding "Bloomberg '08" signs.